ECOWAS has extended the mandate of its chief negotiator, former Guinean Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté, until December 2026 to continue dialogue with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
The decision was taken during the 69th Ordinary Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Lungi, Sierra Leone, where leaders reaffirmed that negotiations with the three countries will be conducted only through a collective framework.
Member states were also urged to avoid separate bilateral agreements that could undermine the bloc’s unity.
The move aligns with the approach adopted by the Confederation of Sahel States, whose members have already coordinated a common position ahead of formal talks with ECOWAS.
Both sides have indicated their willingness to maintain dialogue on issues including regional security, trade, and the free movement of people and goods.
ECOWAS said the extension of the negotiator’s mandate reflects its commitment to building a new framework for cooperation while preserving regional integration and addressing the interests of West African citizens.
